Stencil assembly and attachment thereof to a paper business form



Dec. 22, 1964 A WEBER 3,162,116

J. STENCIL ASSEMBLY AND ATTACHMENT THEREOF TO A PAPER BUSINESS FORM Filed Jan. 26, 1962 z INVENTOR. fosoj 04. M

United States Patent 3,162,116 STENIL ASSEMBLY AND ATTAHMENT THERE- 0F T6 A lAilER BUSINESS FURM Joseph A. Weber, 408 Hill Court, respect Heights, ill.

Filed lian. 2s, 1962, Ser. No. 168,977

5 Claims. (Ci. 161-1231) This invention relates to a new and improved stencil assembly and means for attachment thereof to a paper business form.

Present day businesses tend to use every practical device known to them to automate their processes. Automation may be said to be a word of our times as it has only recently come into prominence. The word automation means generally the transition from manual labor to self or partially self-operated devices. Manufacturing facilities were probably the first to seek these labor-saving devices. It was and still is a desire of businessmen to minimize their manufacturing dependence on labor. Now this automation search has extended to business offices and particularly billing and shipping departments. Attention is invited to applicants copending application on Apparatus for Feeding and Applying Stencils, Serial Number 761,040, now Patent No. 3,052,284. On any order, a single typing of the purchasers name and address suffices for both invoicing and the proper and uniform addressing of all packages constituting the purchase. The present invention contemplates an improvement in stencil assemblies and their attaching means for combining the stencil assembly with a paper invoice or other business form.

In my copending application for patent on Apparatus for Feeding and Applying Stencils mentioned above pressure sensitive adhesive tape is employed to effect an attachment of stencil assemblies to invoices or other business forms. In the copencling application of Eugene J. Rebechini, Serial Number 142,427, stencil coating materials of the thermoplastic type are disclosed. Another of my copending applications, Carbon Sheet and Assembly, Serial No. 142,343, now Patent No. 3,094,342, shows a porous carbon sheet used in conjunction with stencil assemblies.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide for the attachment of a thermoplastic stencil coated sheet to a paper business form by means of applying heat to the stencil and causing the thermoplastic coating to melt and thus upon cooling adhere to the paper business form.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of heat sealing a stencil assembly to a paper business form.

An important object of this invention is to supply a stencil assembly including an outer stencil sheet having a thermoplastic coating, a carbon sheet foreshortened from the stencil sheet and adhesively secured to the stencil sheet, and a heat seal of the stencil sheet at a position where the carbon sheet is foreshortened to a business form.

A still further important object of this invention is to equip a stencil assembly with an outer stencil sheet having a thermoplastic coating, a porous carbon sheet substantially coextensive with the stencil sheet and positioned immediately rearwardly thereof, and means for applying heat to a portion of said stencil sheet to effect a melting of the thermoplastic coating and a passing of the thermoplastic coating through the porous carbon sheet for effecting a fastening of the stencil assembly to a business form.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a stencil assembly having a stencil sheet with a thermoplastic stencil coating and an integral generally ice porous carbon coating on the rear surface thereof, and means for heat sealing the stencil assembly to a business form by applying heat to a portion of the stencil assembly causing the thermoplastic coating to effect a bonding between the stencil assembly and the business form.

Another and still further important object of this invention is the provision of a stencil assembly having a stencil sheet with a thermoplastic stencil coating and a generally porous carbon coating over a portion of the rear face of the coated stencil sheet and means for heat sealing the stencil assembly to a business form at a position spaced from the carbon coating.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a supporting structure to receive a business form and a thermoplastic coated stencil assembly in overlying relationship and to apply a strip heating element to a marginal edge of the stencil assembly and press the stencil assembly against the business form with the supporting structure as a backing and thereafter toremove the strip heating element and permit a cooling and a resolidifying of the thermoplastic coating of the stencil assembly thereby effecting a bond between the stencil assembly and the business form in a desired position on the business form whereby the form is imprinted and the stencil cut with but a single typing. i

Another important object of this invention is to equip a stencil assembly with a thermoplastic coating having a color corresponding closely to the color of a business form to which it is desired to attach the stencil assembly and thereafter to heat seal the thermoplastic coating of the stencil assembly to the business form.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a method of heat sealing a thermoplastic coated stencil assembly to a paper business form.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

in the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a plurality of continuous business forms and a roll of stencil assembly in which stencils cut from the roll are passed across the business forms and fastened to the business forms at some desired location thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and includes therein a backup support for the business form and a heat sealing element both of which were omitted in FIGURE 1 to avoid obstructing the showing of the general relationship of business forms and stencil assemblies.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of one stencil assembly heat sealed to a business form.

FIGURE 4 is another end elevational view of a modilied stencil assembly heat sealed to a business form.

FIGURE 5 is still another end elevational view of a further modified stencil assembly heat sealed to a business form.

HGURE 6- is still another end elevational view showing a further modified form of stencil assembly heat sealed to a business form.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a roll source of business forms. In the same manner as shown in my prior copending application entitled Apparatus for Feeding and Applying Stencils, Serial Number 761,040, a strip of business forms extends upwardly from the roll 10 in a substantially vertical path shown at 11 and thence passes over spaced apart sprockets l2 and 13 which define a generally horizontally disposed run of invoice forms as shown at 14. it is during this horizontal run I typed.

but are provided'with perforated tear lines 36 to permit ready separation of individual forms. The invoices or other business forms are provided with various legends vand blank portions within which names, addresses and other material relative to a sale or the like may be It is the fact that invoice forms are normally typed with the name and address of a purchaser that the present invention is made practical. The business forms are provided with regularly spaced holes along theirside margins as shown at17 and 18. These holes are engaged by the sprockets 12 and 13 to forcefully feed the business forms through the tabbing machine. The means for eifecting movement of the continuous strip of business forms in predetermined desired increments is shown in my prior Patent 2,950,623, entitled Driving Mechanism. The copending application on Apparatus'for Feeding and Applying Stencils, Serial Number 761,040, shows the positioning of stencil assemblies relative to business forms in timed relationship such that each invoice or business form has a stencil assembly applied thereto in the same position.

Separately cut stencil assemblies from a roll supply as shown at 19 are adapted to be delivered transversely of the path of movement of the business forms which are indicated as moving in the direction of the arrow 2% A single stencil assembly 21, severed from the strip 19, is

moved into position on one of the invoice forms it The stencil assembly 21 is shown fastened along its upper marginal edge at 22 by a heat seal to the invoiceform '10. Similar stencils have been put on each of the invoice forms that have passed this particular location of attachment. The stencils tabbed to invoices are shown at 23 and .24. 1

As best shown in FIGURE 2 the attachment of the stencil assemblies to the business forms is accomplished by means of a vertically reciprocable strip type heat sealing element 25 energized by a source of 26. The stencil assembly 21 is disposed beneath the heat sealing strip 25 and directly over the plural sheet, carbon interleaved business form 27-which is delivered to the horizontal run 14 from the roll by engagement of its side holes 17 and 18 by the drive sprockets l2 and 13. .A supportingstructure or backup member 28 forms a bed in a generally horizontal plane over which the business forms may pass when the stencils are applied thereto. The individual stencil asseembly 21 cut from the roll 19 includes a thin stencil sheet with a thermoplastic coating. The thermoplastic coating performs two functions, that of a stencil coating and that of an adhesive. In effecting a heat seal the thermoplastic coating is first heated and then allowed to cool. The themperature used in the heating element should be sufficient to quickly melt the thermoplastic stencil coating, but should not be sufficient to cause any eflect on the multiple sheet business form 27 to which the stencil is being attached. The direction of the reciprocating motion of the heating element 25 is indicated by the two-headed arrow 29 in FIGURE 2.

It is preferable that the heat sealer be relatively narrow and engage only the stencil assembly 21 along its top marginal edge 22. However, the amount of the attachment is not material to the present invention inasmuch as the stencil could effectively continue to function as a stencil even if the entire surface thereof had been heat sealed to the business form on which it is mounted. It is a part of the intended operation of the combination of elements to attach the stencil assembly to the businessform after which the stencil is cut with the desired inscription and the invoice simultaneously imprinted with the same inscription. Following cutting and imprinting the stencil assembly is stripped from the business form and the carbon sheet removed from the stencil sheet. The cut stencil is inserted into a printer and packages or cartons constituting the order of the invoice form are addressed with the stencfl printer. Inasmuch as the addressing of the invoice and the packages are done with a single typing there can be no discrepancies therebetween.

The stencil assembly of FIGURE 3 is identified by the numeral 30. The assembly includes an outer stencil sheet 31 having a thermoplastic stencil coating thereon. A separate carbon sheet 32 is foreshortened at its top leaving the upper marginal edge of the back of the stencil sheet 31 uncovered. The carbon sheet 32 is fastened at 33 by means of cement or other adhesive to the bacle side of the stencil sheet 31. Following this suba'ssembly of parts the stencil assemebly 3b is fastened at 34 by means of a heat seal to a business form 35. The thermoplastic coating on the stencil sheet 51 is melted by the heating element 25 when the stencil assembly is in contact with the business form 35. Immediately following melting of the thermoplastic coating the heating element 25 is removed thus permittin the thermoplastic material to cool and eilect a bond between the stencil assembly and the business form as the thermoplastic coating resolidifies.

As best shown in FIGURE 4 a modified form of stencil assemblyfio includes an outer stencil sheet 37 having a thermoplastic stencil coating. A relatively porous carbon sheet 38 is substantially coextensive in size with the outer stencil sheet 37. The heat sealing element 25 is applied to the upper marginal edge of the assembly 36 causing the thermoplastic coating of the outer sheet 37 to melt and flow through the porous carbon sheet 38 to ellect a bonding of the entire assembly as to a business form 39 as shown at 46. In this modified stencil assembly form of FIGURE 4 the thermoplastic coating utilized as an adhesive not only fastens the assembly to the business form 39 but also causes adherence of the carbon sheet 38 to the stencil sheet 37. The thermoplastic bond permits easy removal of the stencil assembly 36 from the business form 39. Similarly the carbon sheet 38 may be easily stripped from the stencil sheet 37 and the stencil then used in a printing machine.

As best shown in FIGURE 5 the stencil assembly shown at 41; comprises a stencil sheet 42 having a thermoplastic coating. The backside of the stencil sheet 42 has an outer porous canbon coating as shown at 43. By the application of the heating element 25 to the stencil assembly 41 the assembly is fastened to a business form 44 at 45 by reason of the thermoplastic coating melting and then resolidifying to form a bond between the stencil sheet 42; and the business form 44. Even though the carbon coating is on the backside of the stencil sheet as its porosity permits flow of the thermoplastic material therethrough to cause a bond between the stencil and the invoice or other business form.

The device of FIGURE 6 is similar to that of FIGURE 5 but for the fact that the stencil assembly as of FIG- URE 6 includes a single stencil sheet 47 with a thermoplastic coating and having a porous carbon coating 48 on V the rear thereof that isforeshortened so that it does not extend all the way to the top thereof. Thus the upper portion of the stencil sheet 47 which is to be heat sealed to a business form 49 is not coated with the porous carbon coat 48. This foreshortening of the carbon coating permits an undiluted transfer of the thermoplastic coating of the stencil to the business form 49 as shown at 56 to thus securely hold the stencil assembly along its top marginal edge at St? to the invoice form during the typing or other inscribing operation.

in the operation of the devices of this invention the business forms to be tabbed with stencils are delivered through a generally horizontal plane and by means of a backup or supporting structure, stencils may be impressed thereon and heat sealed to the business forms. The present invention utilizes the thermoplastic stencil coating to ellect a bond between the stencil assemblies and the business form. Inasmuch as this is true it is preferable that the thermoplastic stencil coating be of a colorsubstantially the same as the color of the paper in the business form. This is true because a slight transfer of the thermoplastic coating occurs upon stripping and is retained by the business form after the stencil is removed. After separation the stencil may be used as a reproduction master. In the making of the device of this invention stenoils are fastened to business forms, Following the application of heat to the stencil along one marginal edge the thermoplastic material melts and resolidifies to act as a bond between the stencil assembly and the business form. Resolidifying occurs immediately upon the removal of the heat sealing element 25. As shown in FIG- URES 3 through 6, inclusive, several stencil assemblies may be utilized with this same inventive concept having the thermoplastic coating thereof etfecting the sealing of the assembly to a business form whether or not it passes through a carbon sheet or a carbon coating. Following the tabbing of the invoices with stencil assemblies the invoice is typed or otherwise inscribed with legends directly onto the outer surface of the stencil assembly. This simultaneously cut-s the stencil and by the carbon sheet or coating behind the stencil causes a direct imprinting of the inscription on the invoice form. The next step in the procedure is to remove the stencil assembly, strip it of its carbon sheet and place it in an imprinting machine or hand stamp to effect an imprinting of the inscription thereon onto cartons or packages constituting the shipment to go along with the invoice.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide ringe without departing from the principles disclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. A stencil assembly fastened to a business form comprising said stencil assembly having a stencil sheet, a thermoplastic stencil coating on said stencil sheet, said stencil assembly having means to directly impart material inscribed on the stencil to said business form, said stencil sheet fastened to said business form by heat sealing said thermoplastic stencil coating, said means for imparting the material inscribed on the stencil to the business form including -a porous carbon sheet, and the heat seal being formed by a flowing of the thermoplastic coating of the stencil sheet through the porous carbon sheet to the business forms.

2. A stencil assembly fastened to a business form comprising said stencil assembly having a stencil sheet, a thermoplastic stencil coating on said stencil sheet, said stencil assembly having means to directly impart material inscribed on the stencil to said business form, said stencil sheet fastened to said business form by heat sealing said thermoplastic stencil coating, said means for imparting the material inscribed on the stencil to the business form including a porous carbon coating on the back side of the stencil sheet and the heat seal being formed by a flowing of the thermoplastic coating of the stencil sheet through the porous carbon coating to the business form.

3. An article of manufacture for a stencil which is subsequently cut and then used in a multiple reproducing process and simultaneously imprinting indicia cut in said stencil on a business form comprising, a business form, an assembly formed to be completely removable from said business form, said assembly comprising a sheet of materials, said sheet having a thermoplastic stencil coating covering the entire surface thereof, a porous impression reproducing material on the under-side of said sheet, said sheet being afiixed to said business form solely by a heat seal between said sheet and said business form by virtue of the thermoplastic stencil coating flowing from the sheet and through the porous impression reproducing material to the business form, said thermoplastic stencil coating further having a composition permitting said entire sheet to be manually peeled from said business form, so that any indicia cut in said thermoplastic stencil coating is reproduced on said business form and said sheet is completely removable from said business form to permit use of said sheet in a multiple reproducing process with said business form solely carrying said reproduced indicia.

4. An article of manufacture for a stencil which is subsequently cut and then used in a multiple reproducing process and simultaneously imprinting indicia cut in said stencil. on a business form comprising, a business form, an assembly formed to be completely removable from said business form, said assembly comprising a sheet of material, said sheet having a thermoplastic stencil coating covering the entire surface thereof, an impression reproducing material on the underside of said sheet, said sheet being afiixed to said business form solely by a heat seal between said sheet and said business form through the adhesive characteristics of said thermoplastic stencil coating, said thermoplastic stencil coating further having a composition permitting said entire sheet to be manually peeled from said business form, so that any indicia cut in said thermoplastic stencil coating is reproduced on said business form and said sheet is completely removable from said business form to permit use of said sheet in a multiple reproducing process with said business form solely carrying said reproduced indicia, said impression reproducing material comprising a porous carbon sheet having one edge thereof coextensive with one edge of said sheet, and said heat seal being formed by a flowing of said thermoplastic stencil coating substantially along said one edge of said sheet through said porous carbon sheet to said business form.

5. An article of manufacture for a stencil which is subsequently cut and then used in a multiple reproducing process and simultaneously imprinting indicia cut in said stencil on a business form comprising, a business form, an assembly formed to be completely removable from said business form, said assembly comprising a sheet of material, said sheet having a thermoplastic stencil coating covering the entire surface thereof, an impression reproducing material on the underside of said sheet, said sheet being affixed to said business form solely by a heat seal between said sheet and said business form through the adhesive characteristics of said thermoplastic stencil coating, said thermoplastic stencil coating further having a composition permitting said entire sheet to be manually peeled from said business form, so that any indicia cut in said thermoplastic stencil coating is reproduced on said business form and said sheet is completely removable from said business form to permit use of said sheet in a multiple reproducing process with said business form solely carrying said reproduced indicia, said impression reproducing material comprising a porous carbon coating on said sheet between said thermoplastic stencil coating and said business form, and said heat seal being formed by a flowing of said thermoplastic stencil coating from said sheet of material through said porous carbon coating to said business form.

Newman July 15, 1952 Mason Mar. 28, 1961 

1. A STENCIL ASSEMBLY FASTENED TO A BUSINESS FORM COMPRISING SAID STENCIL ASSEMBLY HAVING A STENCIL SHEET, A THERMOPLASTIC STENCIL COATING ON SAID STENCIL SHEET, SAID STENCIL ASSEMBLY HAVING MEANS TO DIRECTLY IMPART MATERIAL INSCRIBED ON THE STENCIL TO SAID BUSINESS FORM, SAID STENCIL SHEET FASTENED TO SAID BUSINESS FORM BY HEAT SEALING SAID THERMOPLASTIC STENCIL COATING, SAID MEANS FOR IMPARTING THE MATERIAL INSCRIBED ON THE STENCIL TO THE BUSINESS FORM INCLUDING A POROUS CARBON SHEET, AND THE HEAT SEAL BEING FORMED BY A FLOWING OF THE THERMOPLASTIC 